Public Enemies

[Teljair]

Yea, it was pretty terrible... I'm extremely dissapointed.

[Ham n Cheese]

wow what an unfortunate waste of two good actors. i'll wait for the blu ray then

[Arbitrary]

I guess the story wasn't that bad, it was just very bland. There wasn't any effort made to really connect you to the time period. Cinderella Man, for example, really stuck you in the Great Depression. Public Enemies was set in the late 20s, early 30s but it could have been set anywhere at anytime. Also, for being about John Dillinger, they don't do hardly anything with it. It could have been about an entirely fictional bank robber and you wouldn't know the difference. His cohorts really, really, blended into the background. We get introduced to Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd but they aren't much better than super hero cameos in comic book films. Sure, we know the names, but who are they and what drives them? You just do not have any reason to care about anyone.

What I could not stand, and what gave me a headache, was the terrible blocking of the scenes, camera shaking, and hand-cam bullshit during action sequences. I don't want to see the close-up of someone's back shot on obviously lower quality film stock during a gun battle. Show me what is actually happening from a vantage point that isn't ass. And hold the fucking camera steady.

[Leadsalad]

Originally Posted by Arbitrary

What I could not stand, and what gave me a headache, was the terrible blocking of the scenes, camera shaking, and hand-cam bullshit during action sequences. I don't want to see the close-up of someone's back shot on obviously lower quality film stock during a gun battle. Show me what is actually happening from a vantage point that isn't ass. And hold the fucking camera steady.

Welcome to a Michael Mann film.

[Simas]

Im going to see this later tonight. Im surprised by the reactions on here, most of the reviews I've read say its good but not great, which is how I feel about pretty much all Mann pictures. Always solid but never quite classic.

[Eyashusa]

This movie is the exact opposite of Transformers 2 when it comes to reviews. Professional movie critics are giving it great reviews and normal guys like us are giving it shitty reviews.

That's my experience at least. I'll probably end up waiting for this on DVD too.

[Fungul]

Originally Posted by Simas

Im going to see this later tonight. Im surprised by the reactions on here, most of the reviews I've read say its good but not great, which is how I feel about pretty much all Mann pictures. Always solid but never quite classic.

With the exception being Heat. Classic.

[Bo Jackson]

I was hoping this would be more like Heat then that crappy Miami Vice movie. From what you guys are saying about the camera it sounds a lot more like the latter. I haven't decided if I want to pay to see this yet.

[chaos]

Originally Posted by Fungul

With the exception being Heat. Classic.

I like Mann's films, I always watch them, but I'm going to have to say it: If it wasn't for that street shootout scene, Heat would have been pretty mediocre. That's one of the best shootout scenes I've ever seen, and everything builds to that, and it colors the entire rest of the movie. The ending, with Pacino and DeNiro out at the airport, it was disappointing. The entire movie is basically the truck scene, some character development, the shootout in the street, and then big time disappointment.

It's been a while since I've seen heat, maybe I'm letting his other movies color my memory.

[homsar]

Too bad if this is true, I'm a huge fan of Michael Mann. Collateral, Heat, and last of the Mohicans are some of my favorite movies, if these reviews are true he will have screwed me over twice in a row now 8(.

[Fungul]

Originally Posted by chaos

I like Mann's films, I always watch them, but I'm going to have to say it: If it wasn't for that street shootout scene, Heat would have been pretty mediocre. That's one of the best shootout scenes I've ever seen, and everything builds to that, and it colors the entire rest of the movie. The ending, with Pacino and DeNiro out at the airport, it was disappointing. The entire movie is basically the truck scene, some character development, the shootout in the street, and then big time disappointment.

It's been a while since I've seen heat, maybe I'm letting his other movies color my memory.

I agree, the ending wasn't spectacular. However the coffee scene with Pacino and DeNiro certainly was. The whole cat and mouse relationship between the 2 is spectacular, how cool and calm DeNiro is, the Waingro character is great and yes the action.

I really enjoyed Collateral, but Heat is in its own league.

[Astrocreep]

The Michael Mann Hanibal Lecter movie Manhunter (later remade into Red Dragon) was pretty badass, i was hoping this movie would be good too. im a depp fan and a fan of Dillinger's biography. Oh well if this movie sucks go rent Lady In Red from the 70s its about Dillinger too but at least it has lots of fucked up shit and lots of titties and hairy beaver shots.

[Eyashusa]

I forgot Michael Mann did Collateral. I love that movie.

[Ossoi]

Heat mediocre except for the shootout?

Everything about that film is top tier, not just the action sequences.

-the character development, nearly every character has a massive backstory and all their fates are linked to the bank robbery, even minor characters like the stand-in getaway driver (Palmer from 24)

- the Macauley/Hannah relationship - a key theme of Mann films is the dynamic between two male characters and here you have two of the finest actors of their generation playing the leads.

-Cinematography, Spinotti's camerawork together with Mann's use of colour in certain scenes is awesome, the shot of Macauley silhouetted in blue light against the ocean is amazing.

Anyway, I came away from Public Enemies with the same vibe I had after leaving Miami Vice - that the narrative structure didn't really flow that well, whilst the plot was less complicated than Vice I think anyone watching this expecting an action film is going to struggle to keep up.

Best Mann Films

Heat
Thief
Manhunter

Collateral
Miami Vice
Public Enemies

The Keep is also worth seeing if you can find a copy online, left off Insiders and Ali.

[Arbitrary]

Originally Posted by Eyashusa

I forgot Michael Mann did Collateral. I love that movie.

The only problem with Collateral is that last twenty minutes or so. It was a great story up until Tom Cruise's character is trying to catch Jamie Lee Fox on foot. The really good dialogue all dries up and we get stuck in a slasher film chase for most of the finale. I wanted a conclusion based less on action.